Traditional Braces in Portland, OR | Damon System | Self-Ligating Braces in Portland, Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Orthodontics?
2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth?
3. What is a board certified orthodontist? Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
5. Are braces necessary?
6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist? Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
14. What are Damon braces?
15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
17. What are rubber bands?
18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
19. Am I too old? Nobody my age has braces.
20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
21. How do I clean the braces? Do I need a special toothbrush?
22. How long will I be in braces?
23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
26. What types of retainers are there?
27. Are braces expensive?
28. How does insurance work?
29. What about sterilization?

1. What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a section of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial abnormalities.

2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth?
Just as there are specialists in medicine (such as anesthesiologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists etc.), there are specialists in dentistry. There is a difference between an orthodontist and a dentist who does a few orthodontic procedures.
Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after completing dental school, go on to further full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That intensive training lasts 2-3 years and is solely focused on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. By studying tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to align teeth and align jaws.

An orthodontic specialist is an expert on straightening and helping jaws develop properly. Orthodontists completely limit their practice to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics to provide you with the highest quality care. Most orthodontic insurances only pay for braces once in a lifetime. Have an orthodontic specialist do it correctly the first time!

3. What is a board certified orthodontist? Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
A board certified orthodontist has completed a graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics that is accredited by the American Dental Association. Completion of an accredited orthodontic specialty program makes the orthodontist eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination process of The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). The ABO is the only certifying board recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association. Taking part in the certification process is a demonstration of the orthodontist's quest of continued proficiency and excellence.

The certification process involves a thorough Written Examination covering all areas of orthodontics and facial growth. Successful completion allows the orthodontist to show treated cases to a Board of expert examiners. Upon successful completion of case presentations and oral examination, the orthodontist becomes a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and can then call themselves board certified. Only 38% of orthodontists in the United States and Canada are board certified. Dr. YOUR NAME is proud to be a board certified orthodontist.

4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
Absolutely not!! Unlike medical insurance, you do not need a referral from your general dentist. You can make an appointment for a complimentary exam without any worries. We love to meet new patients. If you are new to the area and searching for a dentist, we would also be happy to give you recommendations.

5. Are braces necessary?
No. But, straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Straight jaws and teeth may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Teeth that work better also tend to look better. An attractive smile is a nice “side effect” of orthodontic treatment. An attractive smile is a wonderful asset. It plays a role in self-confidence, self-esteem and self-image—important qualities at any age. A pleasing appearance is an important part of self-confidence. A person's self-esteem frequently gets better as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can improve social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
As soon as their permanent teeth start to erupt, you can begin to look for developing orthodontic problems. Here are some signs that may be a sign of the need for an orthodontic evaluation:
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Trouble chewing or biting
Crowded or blocked out teeth
Teeth that do not meet at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion with the rest of the face
Habits (like thumb sucking) continued after the permanent incisors come in
Upper teeth that “stick out”
If your child is extremely self-conscious of his/her smile

Of course, you can always call YOUR OFFICE NAME for a free examination so Dr. YOUR NAME can check for potential problems for you.

7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist? Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have their initial orthodontic screening by age 7. Dr. YOUR NAME is qualified to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth even while baby teeth are present. The advantage of early detection is that some orthodontic problems may be easier to fix if found and addressed early. 85-90% of the time, we will just supervise the growth and development of your child every 9-12 months until he/she is ready for comprehensive treatment.

Remember – there is no age limit for orthodontics!! At YOUR OFFICE NAME, we enjoy treating adults as well as children.

8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
It is best to bring all decision makers to the initial consultation. This offers everybody the opportunity to ask questions and fully understand the orthodontic treatment plan. We can also better explain our treatment findings and solutions by using visual aids. If everyone is unable to come, we are always available to answer questions via telephone.

9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
During the first appointment Dr. YOUR NAME will:
Welcome you to the office
Review your health history
Do a complete orthodontic exam
Summarize your specific orthodontic issues
Clarfy the options for improvement
Identify the optimum time to begin treatment
Approximate the length of treatment and how much your insurance will cover

We aim for a very friendly, open and caring atmosphere in the office. We encourage you to ask questions throughout the exam. We would like you to feel confident and informed when you leave the office.

10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
Some benefits of early orthodontic treatment include:
Prevent harmful habits
Lower possibility of injury to protruded front teeth
Improve appearance and self-image
Improvement of problems that lead to unfavorable growth problems
Direct eruption of permanent teeth.

For each patient who needs orthodontic treatment, there is an optimum time for it to begin in order to attain the best result. YOUR OFFICE NAME would love to help you figure out when orthodontics is right for your child.

11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
Braces use gentle force to shift the teeth into the optimal place. The braces have a prescription built into the bracket that has the optimum torque, tip and location for each tooth. The wire that we use has the “optimal” form of where your teeth should be. By threading the wire into the braces, the prescription is expressed and the wire tries to go back to its original form. Both of these pressures cause the tooth to shift in the bone.
Bone is a very dynamic living tissue. The pressure from the braces causes the bone to resorb to make room for the tooth in the correct location. It concurrently fills in bone where the tooth was before.

The process sounds very complicated, but with new wires and technology it is more comfortable than ever.

12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
Absolutely. There are many people that are candidates for Invisalign. Dr. YOUR NAME is Invisalign certified and has been learning about and utilizing this technology since its early stages more than ten years ago. This is an approach to employ a progression of removable invisible aligners to straighten the teeth without brackets or wires. This sophisticated technology does not fix all bite problems and candidates for Invisalign should be screened carefully.
We urge you to select a provider with formal orthodontic training who can modify your treatment accordingly if things do not go as planned. Numerous patients can complete treatment with only aligners. Some patients will receive a better outcome with a combination of a short phase of conventional braces to fix issues that are too challenging for aligners and the majority of treatment with invisible aligners undetectable to the human eye. An orthodontic specialist has the training to present to you numerous options for your optimal result.

If you are not a candidate for Invisalign, we offer clear braces which are much less noticeable and a fashionable choice for adults and teenagers alike!

13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
We offer ceramic (clear) braces that are much less obvious. From a distance, most people will not notice them or think you are just wearing a retainer. The technology is advancing at a great pace to make wires less obvious as well. Many celebrities such as Tom Cruise have worn the ceramic brackets rather than Invisalign.

14. What are Damon braces?
Damon braces otherwise known as the Damon System is simply one of 30+ brands of self-ligating brackets. Other commonly used brands of self-ligating brackets include In-Ovation, Smart Clip, Time3, Vision LP, and Speed. Unlike traditional braces, these brackets have a built-in mechanism to hold the wire in position. Since elastic ties are not used, you are unable to select various colors with these braces. Years ago it was thought that self-ligating braces resulted in less pain and shorter treatment times (less time in braces). Unfortunately, recent findings have shown this to simply NOT be true. While self-ligating brackets are still used by many orthodontists for a variety of reasons, studies have shown them to work no better or worse than traditional braces.

15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
“Instant orthodontics” has absolutely nothing to do with orthodontics since no teeth are actually moved. “Instant orthodontics” is the process of placing veneers and crowns over the crooked teeth to make them appear straight from the front. The actual teeth and roots are never actually straightened. This process is not performed by an orthodontist but rather by a general/ cosmetic dentist. Given that “instant orthodontics” permanently damages the teeth and may prevent you from ever having real orthodontic treatment in the future; it is not a decision to be made lightly. While it is universally agreed that these procedures are not advised for kids, leading cosmetic dentists have even started to question the ethical implications of performing such procedures in adults given the inevitability of replacing crowns and veneers every 5-10 years resulting in removal of even more tooth structure.

In addition, be cautious of the dentist you choose for such a process. Cosmetic dentistry is not an officially recognized specialty and therefore a dentist does not need any special training to call themselves a cosmetic dentist.

16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
No. You can, however, bleach your teeth before you get braces or when you are completed with braces.

17. What are rubber bands?
Rubber bands are an incredibly important part of orthodontic treatment. Rubber bands are removable elastics that help get the upper and lower teeth to fit in an ideal location. Braces alone cannot move your teeth without the constant force of the rubber bands guiding them into position. It is extremely important you wear your rubber bands as prescribed. If you don’t wear the elastics, orthodontic treatment will require more time and you will probably end up with a compromised result. Most people only need to wear rubber bands for six months of their overall orthodontic treatment time. Isn’t it worth it for the smile of your dreams?

18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
There is no evidence to prove that orthodontics will alleviate or initiate TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders). It is essential to have your jaw assessed by a TMJ/TMD specialist first. Once your jaw troubles are under control, we would be happy to work on your smile and bite.

19. Am I too old? Nobody my age has braces.
You are never too old to begin orthodontics. As long as your teeth, gingiva and adjacent bone are healthy there is nothing preventing you! You may be astonished to know that 1 in 5 orthodontic patients is an adult. There are approximately 1,000,000 adults in orthodontic treatment right now.

20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
We request that you stay away from sticky, chewy, hard, crunchy and high sugar foods. These foods tend to get caught on the brackets, bend archwires, pull off braces and bands and produce permanent white marks on your teeth. You can still have a lot of the same foods, but you may need to modify the way you eat them. Cutting things up into small bites and primarily using your back teeth is a good approach.

21. How do I clean the braces? Do I need a special toothbrush?
Our saying is “the best toothbrush is the one that gets used”. For the most part, there is no need to use a special toothbrush, but you do need to spend more time brushing your teeth, braces and gums. We also advise that every patient applies a fluoride based mouth rinse before bed. We will discuss brushing and flossing when you get your braces and we will always be available for instructions and suggestions when desired.

22. How long will I be in braces?
Treatment time will differ from patient to patient and the orthodontist’s treatment estimate is exactly that – an estimate. The national average is 24-28 months, but orthodontic treatment can continue anywhere from 9-36 months depending on the difficulty of the issue and the compliance of the patient. One should not select an orthodontist based on the number of months they estimate treatment to take. Many orthodontists will underestimate treatment times simply to get you as a patient.

23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
Most of the time (~90%) children who go through a Phase I treatment require a second phase of orthodontic treatment. Research has shown that kids who have Phase I treatment do not have a shorter or less difficult second phase of orthodontic treatment. There will be situations where Phase I orthodontic treatment is needed to help avoid more serious problems. If there is any question, bring your child in for an examination.

24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
With advances in technology, the need for removal of permanent teeth has been significantly decreased. In certain situations, however, removal of permanent teeth is still needed to provide optimal dental and facial esthetics. In situations where extracting teeth is required the spaces will be closed and no one will ever know you had them out.

25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
Studies have shown that teeth move over time with or without braces. No treatment is absolutely stable. That is why retainers are a lifetime commitment. We will ask you to wear your retainers full time (24/7) for the first half year, every night for 2 years and then at least three nights a week for life.

26. What types of retainers are there?
There are many varieties of retainers. It is important for Dr. YOUR NAME to look at your situation and give you their advice for what is best for you. Of course, we also want your input. By and large there are four types of retainers:
Invisible retainers (clear trays that cover the teeth)
Hawley retainers (plastic and wire retainers)
Permanent retainers (glued to the inside of the teeth)
Positioners (looks like an upper and lower mouthguard glued together)

27. Are braces expensive?
Orthodontic fees have not increased as quickly as many other consumer products. The orthodontic treatment fee will vary depending on the severity of the situation. Dr. YOUR NAME will work with you to create a financial arrangement that works best for you. YOUR OFFICE NAME provides interest free financing as well as sibling and military discounts. The average monthly payments may be less than you think. We do not want finances to get in the way of the smile of your dreams.

28. How does insurance work?
We accept almost all orthodontic insurances – we can file with any PPO plan. Do not be fooled by outdated internet provider lists. Call our office and we can look up your insurance benefits before your first appointment. Typically your insurance will cover a portion of the fee and you will be responsible for the rest. We are happy to work with your insurance companies to maximize your orthodontic benefit.

29. What about sterilization?
Our patient’s peace of mind, safety and health are very important to us. Therefore, we use state-of-the-art sterilization techniques for all of our surfaces and equipment. Our employees are OSHA trained and abides by all guidelines. If you have any questions about our procedures, please ask.

If you have additional questions about our office or orthodontics in general, call YOUR OFFICE NAME and schedule your orthodontic exam and consultation today.

YOUR OFFICE NAME is Portland, Oregon's premier orthodontist/dentist providing traditional braces and self-ligating braces (Damon System) to Portland, OR.

Orthodontist website marketing by Prodigy Web Solutions for YOUR NAME, DDS, MS (orthodontist in Portland, Oregon) of YOUR OFFICE NAME providing traditional braces and self-ligating braces (Damon System) to Portland, Oregon.

Contact: info@Portland-orthodontist.com

Portland Office
1234 Main Street
Portland, OR 97291
TEL: 555.123.4567
FAX: 555.987.6543